FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -
Lauren Silberman did not kick the ball as far as
she hoped. The first woman to compete in a NFL regional tryout says she hurt
her leg practicing this week. Her two kicks went less than 20 yards.
After Silberman's failed kicks she
stopped and met with medical staff. She never returned to the field to take the
6 kicks that remained.
John Beake directs scouting for the NFL.
28 year old Silberman has never been on
a football team. She played club soccer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and went to grad school at MIT. She only started kicking footballs as a hobby a
few months ago.
38 kickers were evaluated at this
regional try out. Scouts say they look for accuracy and kicking strength.
Just a week after race car driver Danica
Patrick made new strides for women at the Daytona 500, Silberman wanted to
leave her own mark in sports.
If given the chance, she says she'll
take another shot at making history.
Players who are selected for the next
level of tryouts in Dallas will be contacted this week. Out of the thousands
that compete in regionals, less than 200 move on.
